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You are here: Home / Proteins / Shellfish / Herbed Calamari Salad with Preserved Lemons

Published October 14, 2013. By Alyssa Brantley 56 Comments

Herbed Calamari Salad with Preserved Lemons

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Herbed Calamari Salad with Preserved Lemons is the perfect chilled salad to feed a crowd. Easy to make and full a flavor, this Mediterranean inspired dish will please any seafood lover!

Calamari Salad with Preserved Lemons from www.everydaymaven.com

Surprise!

It’s a Virtual Baby Shower for my friend Liz from The Lemon Bowl! You may already follow Liz’s blog or have heard me mention her a couple of times. Liz and I are kindred food spirits who not only have a deep love for all things Asian, Mexican and Middle Eastern but seem to want to eat every single thing the other posts.

lizs-baby-shower

It goes without being said that Liz’s Virtual Baby Shower was going to revolve around lemons. I chose the salad course and decided to recreate a dish I shared with my husband at a restaurant over the summer – Herbed Calamari Salad with Preserved Lemons.

Calamari Salad with Preserved Lemons from www.everydaymaven.com

This is not complicated but looks fancy. It feeds a crowd and is served cold – which is always important when you are entertaining.

Be sure to check out all of the Lemon-themed dishes that these other fabulous bloggers made in honor of Liz!

NOTES:

  • I used this brand of Preserved Lemon. Prices really vary from store to store. Your best bet is usually at a Middle Eastern Market or maybe online. I found them to be very expensive at Whole Foods.

IMG_9854

  • My local Whole Foods Market has this brand of sustainably harvested Calamari in the freezer section. They are already 100% cleaned and trimmed and less then $12 for 2 1/2 pounds! Another great option is usually your local fish store – just make sure to ask for the already cleaned and cut calamari!

IMG_9857

  • If you want to make preserved lemons yourself (it’s not hard you just need to plan in advance!), here are some good tutorials.
    • How To Make Preserved Lemons from Simply Recipes
    • How To Make Preserved Meyer Lemons from The Kitchn
    • How to Make Moroccan Preserved Lemons from Nourished Kitchen

Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!

Herbed Calamari Salad with Preserved Lemons
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 25 mins
 

Calamari Salad with Preserved Lemons

Course: Salads
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keyword: Calamari Salad with Preserved Lemons
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 241 kcal
Author: Alyssa Brantley
Print
Ingredients
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 to 3 medium cloves garlic smashed and minced
  • 2 1/2 pounds cleaned and trimmed uncooked calamari rings and tentacles defrosted
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • pinch crushed red pepper flakes
  • juice of 1 large lemon
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped mint leaves
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro leaves
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves
  • peel of 1 preserved lemon thinly sliced
Instructions
To Prepare:
  1. Begin by defrosting the calamari (if purchased frozen). Place in a strainer and run under cold water for 15 to 20 minutes, tossing a couple of times, until soft and pliable. Drain water, pat dry with paper towels and set aside.

  2. Use a paring knife to remove just the rind from the preserved lemon. Discard the inside and thinly slice the rind.

  3. Smash garlic and mince. Finely chop cleaned mint, cilantro and parsley.

To Cook:
  1. Heat a very large skillet or frying pan over medium high heat. Once hot, add 1 1/2 Tablespoons of olive oil. Heat oil and add garlic.

  2. Sauté, stirring constantly, for 20 to 30 seconds until fragrant and add in defrosted and well-drained calamari (If your pan isn't large enough to accommodate all the calamari in one layer, divide the 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil and cook the calamari in batches. You do not want them to steam, you want them to sear and for that, they must cook in a single layer with some room around them). Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper and continue cooking for 2 to 4 minutes or until opaque and just firm. You do not want to overcook the calamari or it be have a rubbery texture.

  3. Drain off any liquid that is released during cooking and remove cooked calamari to a mixing bowl.

  4. Add remaining 1 1/2 Tablespoons olive oil, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, lemon juice, preserved lemon rind and herbs to mixing bowl and toss well while calamari still warm.

  5. Adjust seasoning if necessary, cover and chill until ready to serve. This is nice served over some spring greens or other delicate lettuce with some ripe cucumbers or grape tomatoes. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Herbed Calamari Salad with Preserved Lemons
Amount Per Serving
Calories 241 Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Fat 9g14%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 440mg147%
Sodium 377mg16%
Potassium 503mg14%
Carbohydrates 7g2%
Protein 29g58%
Vitamin A 610IU12%
Vitamin C 18.6mg23%
Calcium 74mg7%
Iron 1.7mg9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Did you make this recipe? Tag @EverydayMaven on Instagram with the hashtag #EveryDayMaven and please give a star rating below.

Calamari Salad with Preserved Lemons from www.everydaymaven.com

Filed Under: Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Grain Free, Salads, Shellfish

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Deborah says

    October 19, 2013 at 9:21 pm

    I have never prepared calamari at home before, but this makes it look so easy!!

    Reply
    • EverydayMaven says

      October 20, 2013 at 7:44 pm

      Well buying the trimmed and cleaned product does make it easy! Cleaning calamari isn’t really that difficult, just REALLY time consuming!

      Reply
  2. [email protected] says

    October 16, 2013 at 3:05 pm

    Having access to cleaned and trimmed calmari is a blessing! I’ve cleaned it, and although it’s not hard, it is kinda messy. Anyway, this looks like such a terrific salad – great job!

    Reply
  3. Ash-foodfashionparty says

    October 15, 2013 at 4:03 pm

    An interesting salad. Never cooked calamari at home, I don’t know why.
    Looks very good, my hubby would love to have a plateful of that.

    Reply
    • EverydayMaven says

      October 15, 2013 at 7:24 pm

      You must change that – calamari is really easy to work with!

      Reply
  4. Erin @ Texanerin Baking says

    October 15, 2013 at 11:03 am

    Ooh! You’re right. It does indeed look fancy! And very pretty. 🙂

    Reply
    • EverydayMaven says

      October 15, 2013 at 11:38 am

      Thanks Erin! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Faith says

    October 14, 2013 at 10:18 pm

    This beautiful salad is such a fun addition to a baby shower! I love the use of preserved lemon here!

    Reply
  6. Laura (Tutti Dolci) says

    October 14, 2013 at 9:15 pm

    I love all the herbs in your salad!

    Reply
  7. [email protected] says

    October 14, 2013 at 8:59 pm

    Alyssa,
    What a terrific salad for Liz, and for all of us. It looks wonderful–nice photos, too!

    Reply
  8. Laurie {Simply Scratch} says

    October 14, 2013 at 8:46 pm

    I love calamari and this salad is stunning!

    Reply
  9. Sheila says

    October 14, 2013 at 7:50 pm

    WOW! This looks incredible! Thanks for participating!

    Reply
    • EverydayMaven says

      October 14, 2013 at 9:30 pm

      Thanks Sheila – you guys did a great job 🙂

      Reply
  10. Lauren @ Climbing Grier Mountain says

    October 14, 2013 at 5:02 pm

    Love calamari!! I wish I had a big bowl of this right now!!

    Reply
  11. Norma Chang says

    October 14, 2013 at 12:57 pm

    Fabulous salad and so appropriate for Liz’s baby shower, adding that to the impressive list of Lemon-themed dishes other fabulous bloggers made in honor of Liz this is quite a party.

    Reply
  12. Sandy Coughlin says

    October 14, 2013 at 12:22 pm

    Love the seafood addition to LIz’s shower! Thank you!

    Reply
  13. Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says

    October 14, 2013 at 11:05 am

    I am seriously drooling over this – I LOVE calamari, it is probably one of my favorite foods!!!! And you’re right, I want everything you post!!!! So glad to have you as a friend. I hope our paths cross in 2014!!! xoxox

    Reply
  14. Megan {Country Cleaver} says

    October 14, 2013 at 8:46 am

    I’ve never tried making calamari at home! What a great addition to a Salad!

    Reply
    • EverydayMaven says

      October 14, 2013 at 1:45 pm

      If you can find them cleaned and trimmed, it’s SUPER easy Megan!

      Reply
  15. Joanne says

    October 14, 2013 at 7:55 am

    Calamari salad is such a fun and unexpected dish to make for a bridal shower! Very inventive.

    Reply
  16. Amanda says

    October 14, 2013 at 7:41 am

    How decadent! Lovely!

    Reply
    • EverydayMaven says

      October 14, 2013 at 1:44 pm

      Thanks Amanda! 🙂

      Reply
  17. Ashley - Baker by Nature says

    October 14, 2013 at 7:24 am

    How did you know I’ve been craving calamari all week?! This looks amazing!!!

    Reply
    • EverydayMaven says

      October 14, 2013 at 1:44 pm

      Funny Ashley! I have been thinking of buying another bag and making a “paleo” crumb to fry them with. ;p

      Reply
  18. Rachel Cooks says

    October 14, 2013 at 6:39 am

    What a gorgeous recipe!

    Reply
  19. Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen says

    October 14, 2013 at 4:10 am

    What a stunning dish! So perfect for Liz’s Shower!

    Reply
  20. Caroline @ chocolate & carrots says

    October 14, 2013 at 3:50 am

    Yum! I’ve never seen preserved lemons before. I bet the flavors are amazing in this dish, Alyssa! It was a pleasure bringing goodies to the baby shower with you!

    Reply

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